José de Ocariz facts for kids

José de Ocáriz (born 1750, died 1805) was an important Spanish diplomat. He is best known for trying to help Louis XVI, the king of France, when the king was in prison during the early years of the French Revolution. Ocáriz was working as a Spanish consul in France at that time.

Who Was José de Ocáriz?

José de Ocáriz was born in La Rioja, a region in Spain. He grew up and began a career in diplomacy. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in other nations, helping to keep peace and good relationships.

Early Life and Career

Ocáriz worked his way up in the diplomatic service. He became a secretary for Spanish ambassadors in different cities. These included Turin in Italy and Copenhagen in Denmark.

In 1788, he was given an important job: Consul General to France. A consul general is a top diplomat who helps citizens from their home country and deals with trade. So, Ocáriz moved to Paris, the capital of France.

A Diplomat's Important Mission

While Ocáriz was in France, the French Revolution was happening. This was a time of big changes and much unrest. The king of France, Louis XVI, was put in prison.

The Spanish king wanted to help Louis XVI. He asked José de Ocáriz to write a public letter to the French government, known as the Convention. In this letter, Ocáriz asked them not to execute King Louis XVI. This was a very brave and important task for a diplomat.

However, in early March 1793, France declared war on Spain. Because of the war, Ocáriz had to return home to Spain.

Later Years and Other Roles

After the war ended, a peace treaty was signed in 1795. This was called the Peace of Basel. After the treaty, José de Ocáriz went back to France to work as a Spanish consul again.

Later, he took on even more important diplomatic roles:

• In 1803, he became the minister general to Hamburg. A minister general is a high-ranking diplomat.
• Also in 1803, he was named minister plenipotentiary to Sweden. This means he had full power to represent Spain in Sweden.
• In 1804-1805, he was appointed minister to the Ottoman Empire. This was a large empire that included parts of Eastern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

Sadly, José de Ocáriz died in 1805 in Varna, Bulgaria. He was on his way to Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, for his new job.

See also

In Spanish: José Ocáriz para niños